“Can I use a Baofeng handheld without a licence?” This is one of our most common questions. Here’s our answer, which applies to UK usage:
What is a Baofeng?
It’s a brand name for a very popular make of cheap handheld radio, favoured by radio amateurs and other radio enthusiasts.
Common models include the Baofeng UV-5R, Baofeng UV-B6 and the Baofeng 888.
Can I use it for amateur radio?
Yes, if you have an amateur radio licence. Many radio amateurs use Baofeng handhelds as they are inexpensive and can operate on popular amateur bands.
You don’t need an amateur radio licence simply to listen to amateur radio transmissions, but to transmit on amateur frequencies you need a valid amateur radio licence from Ofcom.
The usual starting point is the UK Foundation licence. To obtain one, you need to pass the Foundation multiple-choice exam. You can study online with our Foundation Online course. The Foundation exam currently costs £35.50 and the Ofcom amateur radio licence itself is free.
Once licensed, Foundation operators can use the amateur bands permitted by their licence, including the popular 144-146MHz (2 metre) and 430-440MHz (70cm) bands. Dual-band radios such as the Baofeng UV-5R can operate on these two bands.
It is perfectly legal to listen to amateur radio transmissions on a Baofeng without an amateur radio licence.
Can I use it for PMR446?
Generally, no – not for transmitting.
PMR446 is the licence-exempt short-range radio service used by many consumer “walkie-talkies”. In the UK it uses frequencies between 446.0 and 446.2MHz.
You don’t need a licence to use compliant PMR446 equipment, but the radio itself must meet the technical requirements for PMR446. These include a maximum effective radiated power of 0.5 watts (ERP) and other equipment requirements.
Although many Baofeng handhelds can be programmed to transmit on PMR446 frequencies, a typical programmable Baofeng such as the UV-5R is not compliant PMR446 equipment. Simply selecting a lower transmit-power setting does not turn it into a licence-exempt PMR446 radio.
If you want to use PMR446 without a licence, the straightforward solution is to buy a radio specifically designed and approved for PMR446 operation.
You can, however, use a Baofeng simply to listen to PMR446 transmissions.
More reading: Ofcom’s PMR446 Information Sheet
Can I use it with an Ofcom Business Radio licence?
Potentially, yes. If you want to use suitable radios legally for business, organisation or group communications, one option is the Ofcom Business Radio Simple UK Licence.
The licence currently costs £75 for five years and provides a set of pre-assigned frequencies for mobile-to-mobile communications throughout the UK. The maximum permitted ERP for mobile stations is 5 watts.
A Business Radio licence doesn’t automatically make every radio suitable for use. The equipment and the way it is programmed and operated must comply with the licence conditions and relevant technical requirements.
Are there any frequencies I can transmit on with a Baofeng without a licence?
Generally, no. A typical programmable Baofeng handheld does not meet the requirements for licence-exempt PMR446 operation. To transmit legally with one, you would normally need an appropriate amateur or Business Radio licence and must operate in accordance with the conditions of that licence.
Listening using a Baofeng Radio?
You can use a Baofeng to listen to amateur radio. We have a page on the subject – see Listening in to amateur radio.
Why not get an amateur radio licence?
If you’ve bought a Baofeng and want to do more than just listen, getting your amateur radio licence opens up a lot more possibilities. The entry-level UK Foundation licence lets you legally transmit on a range of amateur radio bands, talk to other radio amateurs, use local repeaters, experiment with antennas and different types of radio communication, and start exploring a worldwide technical hobby.
Getting started is easier than you might think. The Foundation exam is designed for newcomers and you don’t need any previous radio or electronics experience. Essex Ham offers a free online Foundation training course that you can complete from home, which has helped thousands of people prepare for their first amateur radio licence. Find out about our free Foundation Online course
Hopefully, this article has helped. If you have any questions, please ask below…
BAOFENG BF – 88A/E (PMR 446), has transmission power: 0.5 watts.
Does that mean, it can be used without licence???
Thanks
Not in the UK. The document from Ofcom (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/85156/ir_2009_analogue_and_digita1.pdf) describes the type of equipment that can be used. It can’t have a removal antenna (which the 88A/E does) and has to conform to a specified standard and bear the CE Mark.
Hallo Pete
I just happened to read your useful advice on the Baofeng radios. I bought one recently but I am finding extremely difficult to buy a programming cable that has software and chip compatible with Windows 10, to access CHIRP.
Any advice?
Baofeng tech do one directly for around £7. I bought a knock off before and it was a dud. I can recommend them though.
Why go through the pain and hassle of installing the driver for that old programming cable in Windows 10 when you can do it painlessly with the Painless Programming Cable from XLT!
How about on the industrial scientific allocation?
”
Voice applications
are allowed with
advanced mitigation
techniques. Other
audio and video
applications are
excluded.
434.04 – 434.79 MHz
10 mW e.r.p
”
Anyone know anything about this?
10mW is 0.01 watts – Even if a Baofeng were to be capable of transmitting at a hundredth of a watt, what do you think the range would be? As above – get a Foundation licence (kids of 8 can pass), or if you don’t think you’ll pass, by an Ofcom Business licence.
I donot know why thay do no make
The baofang legal £75 is a bit much
And thar are ham uses swearing and playing music on frequencies
When all I want to do is talk to people around the world
To clarify, both the BF-88A & E do have fixed antennas.
Baofeng 88A doesn´t have a removable antena only baofeng 888s have a removable antenna
The 88e pmr446 specific doesn’t have a removable antenna that would be toe 888s
Getting a license isn’t that difficult. Why would you want to spend the money on the radio you can’t use. If you’re going to transmit on it you better make sure it’s an emergency. The FCC is cracking down on people that do not have licenses
This is Essex mate, FCC has nothing to do with that.
I would like to get a Baofeng UV-5R to talk to my friends locally as a walkie talkie, is this allowed?
Technically you’d all need a licence. In practice though, with thousands of walkie-talkies being sold on eBay all the time, with power output far above 0.5w and using frequencies not in the PMR446 range and probably being given to kids to play with by unaware parents, I doubt anyone is going to come pounding on your door…
Is it legal to use the Baofeng UV-9R in the UK to transmit on marine band? I do have the appropriate licence for this.
What is the correct programing cable that works for the bf-h6 model
I have noticed that so many people are buying these radios now by people with no clue about radio and just want some cheap walkies and use them right out the box without programming them.
If using the business simple uk license, do you still have call sign or station I’d?
With the business licence, you do not get a callsign, do not need a calsign, and do not have to identify yourself.
Whilst of course you do not get a callsign with a business licence, many businesses/groups/charities will issue their own “internal” callsigns which are useful in the case of multiple operators. There will be a designated licence holder and they may well keep a list of the locations where equipment is usually kept, together with equipment details, useful in the event of complaints and echoing the conditions of amateur licences.
A few years ago, I took the Marine Band VHF examination and obtained the licence. Is this good for anything ‘CB’ orientated? Not having looked into the domestic CB market I guess it must have similarities?
Just a random Internet surfer dropping by to say thanks for the informative post. I was about to buy these so my son and I can chat but no realise that would be illegal, which is a shame. Thanks for the information
Hi am wondering if the bf-88e is legal to use in UK without a licence https://www.baofengradio.co.uk/20-x-baofeng-bf-88e-pmr446-walkie-talkies-long-range-two-way-ham-radio-free-programming-cable/
Read the article, it explains very clearly
I there Everyone. I am looking to buy radio for talky talky with friends and family in UK is it legal to do so or she’ll find different radio then BAOFENG UV-5R?
Thanks in advance.
yeah get a foundation license. kids can do it.
then you can legally do CQ and nothing else.
scam. Make radio free for all. Include the dodgy tests if one must, but why limit foundation users to basically saying hello and goodbye on limited bands. Is it elitism ?
Clearly you’ve been misinformed or watching the wrong YouTube clips!
Foundation offers 17 bands between 1.357kHZ and 10.5GHz (including worldwide HF and amateur satellite). Restrictions at Foundation: you can’t design & build your own transmitter until Intermediate, limit on tranmsit power and a few extra (more sensitive) bands, and you can’t operate outside of UK territory until you’ve got a Full licence.
As for what you can and can’t say – I’ve not idea who told you “CQ and nothing else”, but that’s not true. The rules on messages are the same for all amateurs – basically you can’t use it for business purposes, no abusive behaviour, and no deliberate interference to others.
As for free? The amateur radio licence is “free for life” – no annual fee. There is an entry exam (with a one-off fee), which is not elitism – it’s to make sure you know what you’re doing, don’t cause interference and understand the safety issues. As you say, kids can pass it, and it’s not particularly difficult. Amateur radio is worldwide, and unlikely to go “licence free” as it’s an international standard.
Perhaps check out the facts for yourself, or maybe even take a Foundation course for yourself and get the true picture!
I think they should take some advice from the Civil Aviation Authority, an online test to get a flyer ID is free, after completion, you only pay for an operator ID which doesn’t require a test. Therefore no money is wasted. It’s also generally a much smoother proccess.
CAA online flyer ID (model aircraft/drones) test is little more than a beaurcratic nonsense, it has done about zero for safety. It was already an incredibly safe sport and any problems were due to idiots and criminals who I guess wouldn’t bother with the nicety of a test or licence anyway, you know those flying drones with drugs into prisons, or buzzing Heathrow etc.
Plus its not really free you have to pay yearly for the operator ID, for most users you need both.
Clearly you’ve been misinformed or watching the wrong YouTube clips. Perhaps check out the facts for yourself, or maybe even take a Foundation course for yourself and get the facts!
Hi
I bought a Baofeng III band to do some early stage tests on some scientfic instrument equipment for emissions of interfering signals and also for testing for susceptability of the same instrument to signals over the same bands. So I can scan (listen) over the bands without causing legal mayhem looking for stray signals, I understand. However, if I send a tone signal over the range and confirm the strength with my SDR, and look for interference on my instrument I am breaking the law unless I get a full license? If I found someone with a full license and got them over for a day or three, would that cover me? I was also looking around for somebody with a massive steel silo we could hire that would act as a faraday cage. If a second Baofeng III could not pick up the signal outside this silo, would we still need our licensed operator?
I know this is probably beyond the scope of your original article, but finding anybody who knows about this stuff is challenging.
Hi Richard. You’ll be able to do the experiments you’re suggesting with a simple Foundation licence (no need for a Full licence). Foundation is a simple 26-question multiple-choice exam, and gets you a lifetime licence. We offer a free course if you need it (www.hamtrain.co.uk).
Failing that, if you know someone with an amateur radio licence, they’d be able to send test messages.
If that’s not an option, you can buy a licence-free radio (PMR446) which allows transmissions at 0.5 watts on 446MHz
Hope that’s a help, Pete
Hi Pete,
We are looking at getting the UV-R5 in the family for three of us. We will each do the appropriate course to gain the licence.
My question is, is there any way that we can use a channel just for us? Is this something that would become available at a higher licence level?
Also, we travel in a motorhome around the UK – will we be able to operate these anywhere within the mainland?
Thank you.
Hi Jqd,
With amateur radio, you have access to a range of frequencies, and any radio amateur can use them, so there’s no concept of a private channel (at any licence level). At the entry-level Foundation licence, you can operate from mainland UK as well as Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
Pete
Thank you
Hi having purchased two Baofengs prior to obtaining licence here is some `Baofeng awareness’. Not all is as it seems with various models available online. One please note a model UV-15R (999 Chnl) It will not work with chirp has its own very simple programing interface and stores files differently to chirp and is called P15UV CPS I was so upset I complained and bought a UV-5R out of curiosity to compare the two. The PUV-15R does have a minor advantages ie. slightly larger screen and 999 chnl. The UV-5R tri band is more the real deal but has slightly smaller ergonomics. I can get into GB3NB a 20 mile away repeater on both handsets which is nice I live in a village which is somewhat elevated reception is 5/9 upstairs and in kitchen same near window. 73’s
Two-way Radio Walkie-talkie BaoFeng UV-5R – Black I am from UK and I don’t know I need a license
is the Baofeng uv-5rh 100%legal in the uk if i get my foundation licence
I bought a UV-5R on Ebay, several weeks ago. But I returned it because I couldn’t hear anything on it. I didn’t want to be too late for sending it back so I didn’t persevere with getting it to work. This was my first radio since passing my test. I since saw a GT-5R on Amazon and they were claiming it to be better than the UV-5R. So I bought one. It was a bit more expensive so I thought, I guess you get what you pay for. But I couldn’t receive anything on that one either. But I decided to try harder.
I tried to get help from the Baofeng web-site. But they curtly dismissed me, as I hadn’t bought it from their site.
I figured I may stand a better chance of getting my walkie talkie to work if I only had a data cable. This I bought from the Baofeng web site because they said it was suitable for Linux. It cost as much for delivery as was the cost of the cable itself. And it took best part of a month for it to arrive. So no chance of returning my Baofeng now. Only the disk supplied is only for Windows. So I contacted Baofeng again stating that this item had been purchased from then. Yet I received the same curt response from them, and I restated that I had bought this from them, and they stated that I needed to supply the order number. I gave the alphabetical reference they gave me when I purchased the cable, and that was not good enough. They told me my order number would be on their site. All I found there was an invoice number. I supplied that and once again it was no good. It seems the order number is hidden somewhere and that you must solve a number of Mensa grade puzzles in order to find it.
People here speak nothing but good about Baofeng walkie talkies. But maybe no one has tried their web site for help. Because I find them hostile and unhelpful.
But if anyone can help me get my cable working I would be pleased.
Hi. I’m Polish and don’t speak English very well. I’ve always been involved in amateur radio, and I’m also an electronics engineer. Is it possible to obtain a license with a Polish translator?